Safety tool



Dec. 10, 1968 R. e. MILLINGTON SAFETY TOOL Filed Dec. 9, 1966 "1 @FQ/ n If! .I

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INVENTOR MW NVH United States Patent 3,415,563 SAFETY TOOL Robert G. Millington, Treichlers, Pa., assignor to Hims, Inc., Allentown, Pa. Filed Dec. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 600,642 6 Claims. (Cl. 294-25) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A safety tool for removing hands from hazardous zones while manipulating objects within that zone which includes a pair of arms hinged at the wn'st of the wearer and extending forward beyond the fingers, each arm having a finger socket to provide for manipulation of the respective arms by the thumb and a second finger, and the forward extension of the arms terminating in members suitable for engaging the object to be handled.

The present invention relates to apparatus for removing skilled hands from hazardous zones and is concerned, more particularly, with a hand manipulator or extension device which accommodates the natural hand articulation and the strength of gripping-reflex or habit acquired through use of the hands in normal, daily living.

A considerable number of manipulators or mechanical hands have been tried in the past, with varying degrees of success. These have included the extremes of a simple pair of tongs and of complex, precision units, such as are used in radiation laboratories.

In between these extremes, there is a major area in which mechanical hand-extensions would be highly advisable. Taking a punch-press or drill-press operation as an example, there is an inherent hazard in the operation which can cause an injury destroying or hampering the mans acquired skill.

However, even when the skilled worker is provided with the available safety devices, there is still the constant, real problem of the mans annoyance with what he considers cumbersome or delaying gimmicks. He frequently does not reliably use the safety means provided for him.

This is particularly true where piecewor-k rates of pay are in effect, since he can be faster with his hands than with any device which restricts him or which requires an acquired skill for its use. Consequently, one of the biggest problems with available safety devices is the mans conscious or subconscious prejudice against any interference with the habitual skills of his hands.

In contrast, the same man is quick to use any wrench or tool which makes his work easier or more sure or enables him to do the work faster.

The present invention provides a manipulating tool which accommodates the structure and the normal habit motions of the average man and, therefore, provides a minimum interference with the habit motions of the skilled man, while permitting specialized advantages which traverse the manipulator to the status of a tool, rather than a plain safety device.

In general, the preferred form of the present invention comprises a pair of arms hinged for movement with respect to each other, a strap engaging one of said arms adjacent the hinge point, means for securing the strap on the wrist of a human hand, a socket on one of said arms positioned to receive the distal portion of a thumb, a socket on the other arm positioned to receive the distal portion of a second finger, an extension of each arm extending beyond its respective socket away from the hinge point, and engaging means on said extension for engaging an object therebetween, said engaging means including a terminal member on each said extension.

3,415,563 Patented Dec. 10, 1968 A better understanding of the invention may be derived from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the preferred form of tool;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the tool of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the tool taken from the righthand end of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a partial view similar to FIGURE 1 showing a modified form of the invention.

As shown in the drawings, the preferred form of the invention comprises a pair of arms 1 and 2, respectively, which are hinged for a scissors-like motion by a hinge 3.

Adjacent the hinge 3, a wrist strap 4 is secured to the assembly. Preferably, and as shown, the strap 4 engages the hinge 3 itself, so that both arms 1 and 2 are free to move with respect to the strap 4.

The preferred manner of securing the strap 4 is by means of releasable, so-called snap fasteners, represented at 5, to permit emergency release of the hand from the tool. Alternative emergency-release means of securing the tool to the wrist may be used, but the apparatus shown permits convenient, optional removal of the major part of the tool without readjustment of the securing strap.

A suitable anti-friction member may be used, such as the low-friction washer 6. A relatively large area bearing surface is preferred, such as is provided by the washer 6, since it also helps to prevent any play, and consequent binding or actual scissoring engagement between the arms 1 and 2.

The arms 1 and 2 are curved, at their remote ends and at slightly different distances from the hinge 3 to terminate in walls 11 and 12, which generally extend perpendicular to the planes of their respective major portions of arms 1 and 2 adjacent the hinge 3. The remote end of arm 1 is laterally offset with respect to the relatively straight arm 2, when they are in the closed position shown, to accommodate the normal spacing between the thumb and forefinger of a right hand. For a left hand, the arm 1 would be relatively straight, while the arm 2 would be offset, as in a mirror image of FIGURE 1.

The walls 11 and 12 carry finger sockets 13 and 14, respectively, on their surface nearest the hinge 3. Conventional slots S are provided for adjustment of the longitudinal and transverse positions of the sockets.

The thumb socket 13, in the right 'hand tool shown, is arranged with its open bore extending at right angles tothe wall 11, as is best seen in FIGURE 3. The open bore of the socket 14 isarranged substantially parallel with the surface of the wall 12, so that the index finger can find a comfortable angle extending downwardly (with respect to the back of the hand, over which the main portions of arms 1 and 2 extend) into the socket 14.

This orientation of the sockets provides the habitual and most powerful position normally used for picking up and holding objects with two fingers. The rounded, meaty portion of the thumb is then pressed toward the rounded, meaty part of a downwardly and inwardly turned index finger, as is habitual when a person picks up an object, such as a glass, with two fingers.

On their surfaces opposite from the sockets 13 and 14, the walls 11 and 12 carry engaging means comprising a pair of terminal members 15 and 16. As shown in the drawings, the terminal members have twisted, parallel face tips 17 and 18, respectively, for general purpose gripping. Preferably, the tips 17 and 18 are surfaced with a relatively high-friction material, such as a rubber or plastic as shown at 19 in FIGURE 4, for improved traction.

The tips 17 and 18 may take any specialized form for special purposes to provide a more convenient or more secure grip on work than is possible with the fingers alone.

The convenience in use of the tool is surprising. Individuals who do not have more than average skill with their hands have almost no difiiculty in extracting a cigarette from a pack, striking a match, picking up a glass and holding and controlling a glass while drinking, all on the first try.

A moderately skilled hand is able to catch, between the tips 17, 18, thrown objects of appropriate size on the second or third try, if not the first.

A skilled hand can be expected to achieve his usual proficiency in a complex procedure within an hour or at most two. Where special tips 17, 18 are used for complex shapes or cumbersome objects, the skilled hand can be expected to actually exceed his usual manual proficiency.

These results are achieved with constant protection of the hand from hazards at the point of work and with a minimum of annoyance caused by the presence of the tool.

In mechanical operations, entanglement of the tool in the machine is not translated into damage to the hand, since the hand is free to break out of the snap-fastener at the wrist, while the fingers can slide out of the sockets.

The curved metal saddle 7 on which one side of the snap-fastener 5 and strap 4 are mounted, provides lateral stability of the hinge point on the wrist, to retain the hinge 3 at the apparent hinge point between the thumb and forefinger.

It is recognized that the hinge between a thumb and forefinger is an extremely complex, multiple-joint hinge, the versatility of which exceeds the best mechanical hinge or universal joint available. A dissertation would be required to provide an anatomically precise definition of such a hinge point between a thumb and index finger.

However, the present invention recognizes the one hinge action which appears to be almost instinctive when the average person uses the thumb and another finger to pick up an object.

To illustrate what is referred to herein as the apparent hinge point of the thumb and index finger, a demonstration may be used.

Assuming an object roughly two inches in width or diameter, or four square inches in cross-section, and one inch or more in height, the object is placed on a flat surface with the two inch dimension resting on the surface.

An average hand is then rested on the same surface, a few inches away. The thumb is rested on its side, so that the meaty part is directed toward the other fingers. At the same time, the index finger is rested on its tip, while the remaining fingers are curled under, out of the way.

The two working fingers are then spread beyond the two inch dimension; the hand is slid forward on the surface the necessary distance, and the fingers are closed against the object.

If the thumb, index finger and wrist are observed as the fingers are slowly closed against the object, it appears that the thumb and forefinger are hinged at a point on the wrist approximately over or just foreword of the usual location of a wristwatch band, which is the desired position of strap 4, and slightly inward or toward the thumb from the center line of the wrist. Also, it appears that the axis of the hinge is approximately perpendicular to the surface on which the object and the hand rest.

The hinge of the present invention closely approaches coincidence with this apparent hinge point. Minor adjustments for a specific hand may be made by bending of the metal saddle 7 to throw the hinge 3 inwardly or outwardly as desired. Also, it should be understood that a multiple hinge means may be substituted for the single hinge disclosed, but the resultant hinge point is to be closely adjacent the apparent hinge point of the hand.

It should be noted that the adjustments available in the sockets 13, 14 by means of slots 5 and their bolts, and in the saddle 7 usually will permit the manipulating tool of the present invention to be used with the thumb and middle finger, when the index finger has been lost.

Therefore, the present invention provides a safety tool of unusual convenience or familiarity when it is first tried. This factor, and the resultant complete familiarity which is quickly achieved, result in a ready acceptance and reliable use of the device by the skilled worker it is desired to protect.

The machinist, if such is the case, is no longer confronted with restraining straps which jerk his hands out of the way, or otherwise block or interfere with his daily, habitual use of his hands.

Various changes may be made in the details of the invention as disclosed without sacrificing the advantages thereof or departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety tool comprising a pair of arms, hinge means joining said arms, a strap in engagement with at least one of said arms adjacent the hinge means, means for securing the strap about the wrist of a human hand and positioning said hinge means at said wrist region with the axis of the hinge means generally perpendicular to the wrist-engaging surface, a first socket on one of said arms and positioned to receive the distal portion of a thumb, a second socket on the other of said arms positioned to receive the distal portion of a second finger, an extension on each arm extending beyond its respective socket in a direction away from the hinge means, and engaging means for engaging an object, the engaging means including a terminal member on each said extension.

2. A safety tool according to claim 1 in which the strap engages the arm of the tool by means of a hinge.

3. A safety tool according to claim 1 in which the strap engagement with the tool arm includes a releasable fastener.

4. A safety tool according to claim 1 in which the strap engagement with the tool arm includes a deformable saddle.

5. A safety tool according to claim 1 in which the tool arm having the thumb socket is laterally offset to provide a minimum distance between the thumb socket and the second-finger socket when the tool arms are closed toward each other.

6. A safety tool according to claim 1 in which the bore of the thumb socket is generally perpendicular to the axis of the hinge means, and the bore of the secondfinger socket is generally parallel with the axis of the hinge means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 792,089 6/1905 Towers 30232 1,195,907 8/1916 Brown 30-232 1,616,447 2/1927 Gower 30232 FOREIGN PATENTS 143,868 8/1908 Germany.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner. H. C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

